A longtime Selma resident, passed away on Monday, September 3, 2007, in Fresno.
John was born in Selma to William and Sara McDowell on April 15, 1918.
John graduated from Selma High School in 1936.
His college education was interrupted by WWII in 1942.
He served in the U.S.
Army Air Force as an Aerial Engineer from 1942 to 1945, serving in the Pacific Campaign in Papua, New Guinea and the Philippines.
After the war, he completed his education and began a 30 year career as a math teacher for McKinley and Roosevelt schools in Fresno.
He married his sweetheart, Karen Thygsen, in November of 1946.
He was involved for over 35 years with 4H, a life member of YMCA, PTA, CTA and NEA. Later in life, John was a farmer and a traveler.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Karen McDowell.
He is survived by his daughters, Yvonne Ramsey and K. Elaine McDowell, both of Selma;
his sons, Rodney McDowell of Selma and Stephen McDowell of Kingsburg;
his brother Frances McDowell Washington;
his sister , Ferne Egbert of Washington; and
9 grandchildren and
14 great-grandchildren.
Service will be held at Page Funeral Chapel in Selma on Friday, September 7, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. followed by interment at Floral Memorial Park in Selma.
PAGE FUNERAL CHAPEL Selma, Ca.
Published in the Fresno Bee on 9/5/2007.
A longtime Selma resident, passed away on Monday, September 3, 2007, in Fresno.
John was born in Selma to William and Sara McDowell on April 15, 1918.
John graduated from Selma High School in 1936.
His college education was interrupted by WWII in 1942.
He served in the U.S.
Army Air Force as an Aerial Engineer from 1942 to 1945, serving in the Pacific Campaign in Papua, New Guinea and the Philippines.
After the war, he completed his education and began a 30 year career as a math teacher for McKinley and Roosevelt schools in Fresno.
He married his sweetheart, Karen Thygsen, in November of 1946.
He was involved for over 35 years with 4H, a life member of YMCA, PTA, CTA and NEA. Later in life, John was a farmer and a traveler.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Karen McDowell.
He is survived by his daughters, Yvonne Ramsey and K. Elaine McDowell, both of Selma;
his sons, Rodney McDowell of Selma and Stephen McDowell of Kingsburg;
his brother Frances McDowell Washington;
his sister , Ferne Egbert of Washington; and
9 grandchildren and
14 great-grandchildren.
Service will be held at Page Funeral Chapel in Selma on Friday, September 7, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. followed by interment at Floral Memorial Park in Selma.
PAGE FUNERAL CHAPEL Selma, Ca.
Published in the Fresno Bee on 9/5/2007.
Family Members
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Grace Arlene McDowell Cole
1913–1999
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SSgt Elmer Ross McDowell
1914–1945
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Charles Kenneth McDowell
1916–1991
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Laura Margaret McDowell Roe
1920–1981
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Etta Mae McDowell Cartwright- Davis
1922–2007
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Julia Faye McDowell Chappel
1924–2006
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Jennie Marie McDowell Bonfoey
1926–2007
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Frank Edward McDowell
1929–2005
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Ferne Ann McDowell Egbert
1934–2013
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Barbara Edith McDowell
1936–1952
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Evelyn June McDowell
1940–2002
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